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We are visiting an Amish community for a week and then family time for a couple of weeks. I have written some articles for the blog, about 3 per week, which will ‘pop-up!’ thanks to Jonathan’s magic. I may write on our Amish experience which we are very excited about. We spent a few days [...]

Opinion article from Janet Albrechtsen raises the polemical issue of the Prime Minister’s religious sincerity. See PM proves a convert to the politics of faith and Janet Albrechtsen Blog | July 14, 2009
During that Compass interview in 2005, Gillard castigated Tony Abbott and then deputy prime minister John Anderson “for putting matters of faith more [...]

Sad to say, just one year after the affirmations of Anglican Church unity made at the Lambeth Conference of 2008, the USA Anglicans have decided that one year was enough of a wait. Their recent decision to affirm same sex relationships will deepen the split in the world-wide communion. All the Lambeth conversation groups (‘indabering’) [...]

Strange things anniversaries: both milestones in the years traveled and opportunities to reflect on the miles covered. Saturday, St James Day, 25 July, marked my ninth year on the ‘bishoping’ road. St James was the first of the apostles to be martyred: he is an inspiration and a challenge to my own faithfulness to Jesus [...]

I was in Melbourne recently and caught up with two outstanding young Tasmanian theologians who are taking Ridley College by storm: our very own Chris and Luke. They are seen here bringing ‘The Bish’ up to date with the latest theological insights and catching up re goings on back in Tasmania. We had a good [...]

Extracts follow from one of the sadder articles I have read in recent times – and that is saying something!
Try to overlook the utter triviality, unutterable sadness, unbending rebellion and unreasonable rationality; and take a look at the understanding(s) of baptism. Hence this article’s title – Is a hairdryer (read ‘anything’) effectual in ‘de-baptism’?
The article, [...]

Fancy going down in history by your nickname! This could be quite scary. But not for Joseph from the island of Cyprus who was nicknamed ‘Barnabas’ – Acts 4:36.
St Barnabas is the only capital ‘S’ ‘Saint’ I am aware of who is known and celebrated by his nickname. How did this come about? Let’s look [...]

Two notices from the Hamilton Parish July 2009 newsletter ‘Together’,
‘GRETNA SERVICES: For the next few months Geoff Parsons has kindly offered to kindle the fire in the Hall for our services. Thank you, Geoff, we all enjoy the warmth.’
‘ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: . . . will be held. . . after the service at Gretna Hall [...]

Russell the Registrar, sent me the following blog post link with his line ‘blogging is good for your health’. I think it is a pastoral gesture from him. I did enjoy the title of the article: ‘Last post for world’s oldest blogger’. Some people have a way with words.

Some time ago I accepted an invitation to write a chapter for a book on preaching. The editors were wanting a sermon preached in a rural setting. It is due by the end of this month! Not long after I received the invitation I visited King Island, recorded the sermon and had it transcribed: how [...]